Paper Topic:

Critically appraise the research article presented below.

Efforts on developing drugs that could possibly cure alcohol dependence have been expanding in the last decade (NIH , 2004 . Studies pioneered by Volpicelli et al (1992 ) on the efficacy of drug therapy specifically naltrexone , have led to several other investigations of varied methodological structures . Naltrexone was first introduced into the Australian population in 1999 as a potential treatment for alcohol dependence , albeit when taken in while undergoing still unspecified amount of psychiatric therapy (Latt et al , 2002 . Several Australian-based studies have been conducted , and among them is the subject of this

appraisal . Among the proponents is a well-known Australian doctor (Morris ,

.L .P , and the was co-authored by equally well-known and credible people (Hopwood , M , Gardiner J ,Whelan , G . and Drummond , E . Whelan (2001 , for example , has co-authored a meta-analysis of RCTs on naltrexone . The source of the article is also an internationally renowned journal , Addiction , which has been published since 1884 , and has operations centers all around the globe (Addiction , 2008 . In terms of credibility of the source and the proponents , this study passes as very satisfactory . However , it may not necessarily be the same case for the study itself

ABSTRACT

The study , `Naltrexone for alcohol dependence : a randomized controlled trial , is what the title implies it is - in the abstract , the main aim of the study was clarified to be an investigation of the efficacy of naltrexone in controlling alcohol dependence . The also acknowledges that the study was limited only to men , which means that it has a less diverse set of subjects , recognizing the possibility of differences in results due to innate biological disparity . For one women in general seem to have a limited tolerance for alcohol , as mentioned in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2003 . The authors appear to have noted the general requirements of a good RCT which means that , as mentioned in the abstract , it is double-blind (both patients and immediate supervisors are unaware of the allocation of treatments the drug to be was tested for efficacy against placebo the parameters for ascertaining the efficacy was defined and invariable i .e . the maintenance of abstinence and relapse to drinking and , all the subjects were well accounted for , as is necessary according to Greenhalgh (1997 . The abstract was concise but sufficiently detailed

INTRODUCTION

The introduction provides a kind of brief history of studies on naltrexone as a treatment for alcohol dependence , an account of what previous studies lacked in their methods . However , it would have been better if the introduction section started with a brief of the condition , hence underscoring the significance of the study , or the need to pursue more knowledge on the drug 's efficacy on alcohol dependence . An example would be to state the fact that alcohol dependence is only one among biochemical effects of alcohol consumption which basically means habitual , compulsive and long-term drinking (WHO 2008 . Treatment for it largely targeted the psychology of the patient limited only to counseling methods , as mentioned by Fuller and Gordis...

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